Photo: Auto GP
In a shake-up to the grid, Auto GP is welcoming three new arrivals to the grid for the fourth round of the series at Silverstone, although two of them are familiar faces.
The first of those is Hungarian Tamas Pal Kiss who made his debut in the series in his home country at the previous round with MLR 71 (who as a result are now only running one car this weekend for team-owner Michele La Rosa). This comes after Kiss announced that he was looking to acquire sponsorship to compete in the WSR and GP3 rounds in his home country. Where his Auto GP return leaves those plans is unclear. Kiss is replacing Narain Karthikeyan at Zele and will partner his former GP3 rival Luciano Bacheta.
The second familiar face is Italian Fabrizio Crestani who is deputising for ill team owner Giusseppe Cipriani at Ibiza. Crestani drove in the series and its predecessor the Euroseries 3000 between 2008 and 2011, most recently with Lazarus. It was with Lazarus that Crestani left the series in 2012 driving for them in GP2 for the first half of the season before he was replaced by Sergio Canamasas. Crestani has not raced since then so he may be a little rusty; although his experience over many of his competitors should stand him in good stead for a podium.
Making his debut in the series is 19-year old GP2 driver Kevin Giovesi with Ghinzani; who had previously announced that they intended to run a second driver alongside Robert Visoiu. Giovesi is yet to score points in his GP2 campaign but will no doubt be hoping a strong showing in Auto GP this weekend can kick-start his season.
Euronova driver Kimiya Sato is currently leading the championship by five points from Sergio Campana who is racing for Ibiza.